HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_04.25.2007Housing Advisory Board Minutes, April 25, 2007 Page 1 of 2
City of Georgetown
Housing Advisory Board
Minutes
April 25, 2007, at 3:30 p.m.
Williamson Conference Room—Georgetown Municipal Complex
300-1 Industrial Ave., Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members present: Hartley Sappington; Chair, Cynthia Anderson, Janis Cowman-Arteaga, John
Gavurnik, Debbie Hoffman, Emily Northrop, Naomi Walker
Members absent: Nancy Biggs, Dan Bonner, Larkin Tom
Staff present: Jennifer Bills; Housing Coordinator, Tom Yantis; Assistant City Manager
This is a regular meeting of the Housing Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown. The Board,
appointed by the Mayor and the City Council, makes recommendations to the City Council on
affordable housing matters.
Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 3:30 p.m.
Meeting called to order at 3:34 p.m.
1. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes of the Housing Advisory
Board meeting held on Wednesday, March 21, 2007.
Motion to approve Janis Cowman-Arteaga, Second by Naomi Walker. Approved 7-0.
2. Introduction of new Housing Advisory Board Member Debbie Hoffman, Director of
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Georgetown.
3. Discussion on City Council Ordinance 2007-13, regarding Housing Advisory Board
Created-Membership.
Discussed the fact that the City Council reduced membership from 11 members to 9.
Bills stated that Deena Berg has already announced her intention to move out of the
City. Emily Northrop volunteered to step-down unless Dan Bonner did not want to
remain on the Board.
4. Discussions items from Board members:
a. Update on Katy Crossing Section 7.
John Gavurnik updated the Board on the recent decision by City Council to deny the
Residential Planned Unit Development zoning for the Katy Crossing Section 7
subdivision. The Board discussed the recent article from the Sun about the rezoning
denial and the negative associations and misinformation the public has in regards to
“affordable housing.” Yantis pointed out that this further underscores the purpose
of the Housing Advisory Board to educate Council and provide policies for the city
Housing Advisory Board Minutes, April 25, 2007 Page 2 of 2
to use in approving affordable housing developments. Gavurnik informed the
Board that he currently has an application in to rezone the property to RS, Single-
Family Residential.
b. Solar Energy System Rebate program; House Bill 2226 and Senate Bill 1357.
Emily Northrop presented current state legislation that would set up a rebate
program for households that install solar energy equipment. Northrop encouraged
Board members to personally support these bills that are currently in the legislative
session. She also discussed a possible recommendation from the Board to the City
Council to pass a resolution for City support of the bills as well. Northrop motioned
to forward the bills to City Council if the Texas Municipal League had a positive
view of the Solar Energy program. Gavurnik seconded, motion passed 7-0.
c. Additional items.
5. Discussion items from Staff:
a. Presentation on the current and future role for the Housing Advisory Board.
Jennifer Bills presented an outline on the main goals the Board will need to focus on
over the next six months, including developing an official definition of affordable
housing for the city to be adopted by the City Council, as well as setting policies and
goals with the Housing Master Plan. This led to discussion on the use of the term
“affordable housing,” as this phrase tends to have negative connotations. Direction
was given to Bills to look into other possible terminology that other municipalities
use and examine the use of “work force” in place of “affordable.” Further discussion
lead to the determination that the focus for affordable housing incentives and
policies should primarily rest in the 50-80 percent of Area Median Income, as this
household segment tends to fall between both the free market and federal housing
programs. Northrop motioned that housing that is targeted as being available to the
50-80 percent AMI range should be referred to as ‘workforce housing.” The motion
was seconded by Walker. Motion passed, 7-0. There was also a motion that Bills
draft a list of possible incentives the city could offer developers that would work to
provide more housing availability for households in the 50-80 percent of AMI.
Motion passed 7-0
b. Discussion of next meeting date and agenda items.
i. Review Housing Advisory Board By-laws.
ii. Elect Vice-Chair and Secretary
Board adjourned at 5:27 p.m.
__________________________________ _______________________________________
Approved, Hartley Sappington, Chair Attest, Naomi Walker, Board Member